why the suction of a vacuum filtration apparatus is broken before the vacuum is turned off
When the filtration is finished, the tubing from the filter flask should be removed before the vacuum is turned off. This is less important when the house vacuum line is used like in the instruction lab, but it will be when an aspirator is used.
The suction of a vacuum filtration apparatus is broken before turning off the vacuum to avoid introducing air or contaminants into the filter flask or the filtered solution. This process is commonly known as releasing the vacuum.
To properly release the vacuum, follow these steps:
1. Ensure that the vacuum source is switched off or disconnected to prevent any sudden changes in pressure.
2. Gradually open the valve on the vacuum tubing to slowly decrease the suction force. This step should be done slowly and carefully.
3. Once the suction is reduced, gently remove the vacuum filtration apparatus from the filtration setup.
4. Finally, close the valve completely to prevent any air or contaminants from being sucked back into the apparatus.
It's important not to turn off the vacuum before breaking the suction because abruptly stopping the vacuum can cause the filtered solution or contaminants to splash back into the filter flask or cause an imbalance in pressure, potentially damaging the apparatus or contaminating the filtered solution.